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Written Ministerial Statements
Friday 30 April 2004
NORTHERN IRELAND
Prison Service
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Northern Ireland (Mr. Ian Pearson): I have placed copies of the "Northern Ireland Prison Service's Corporate and Business Plan for 2004–2007" in the Libraries of both Houses.
The Corporate and Business Plan contains key performance targets I have set for the service for 2004–05. These are:
No escape for top and high-risk prisoners.
No more than three escapes per 1,000 medium and low risk prisoners.
The number of staff assaulted by prisoners is less than a ratio of five per 100 prisoners.
The number of prisoners assaulted by prisoners is less than a ratio of six per 100 prisoners.
An average of at least 18 hours constructive activity per week for each sentenced prisoner.
An average of at least nine hours constructive activity per week for each remand prisoner.
To ensure 82.5 per cent. of prisoners serving six months or more are working to a resettlement plan and that 95 per cent. of lifers work to a resettlement plan, including preparation of the plan, in the first six months from sentence.
Deliver at least 85 per cent. of the planned training days associated with the agreed corporate training priorities.
Reduce the rate of absenteeism to an annual average of no more than 19 days per head.
Lay the annual report and audited accounts before Parliament prior to the summer recess.
Ensure the average cost per prisoner place does not exceed the target to be agreed with HM Treasury.
The Government have committed substantial resources to implementing the Steele report, so that staff remains in full control. This does not mean any reduction in the need to tackle the other costs that make for an excessively high cost per prisoner place.
Also, in light of developments following the Steele report, and to support the development of partnerships with a wider range of statutory and voluntary agencies beyond the criminal justice system, I have agreed some adjustments to the service's statement of purpose, which now reads as follows:
"The Northern Ireland Prison Service, through our staff, serves the community by keeping in secure, safe and humane custody those committed by the courts; by working with prisoners and with other organisations seeks to reduce the risk of re-offending; and in so doing aims to protect the public and to contribute to peace and stability in Northern Ireland."
TRANSPORT
Departmental Annual Report
The Secretary of State for Transport (Mr. Alistair Darling): I have today published my Department's Annual Report for 2004. Copies have been laid before Parliament and placed in the Libraries of both Houses.
The report sets out the Department's work over the last year and it shows that progress has been made. It also describes the Department's future expenditure plans for the period of the spending review 2002.
ENVIRONMENT, FOOD AND RURAL AFFAIRS
Veterinary Medicines Directorate
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Mr. Ben Bradshaw): I have set the veterinary medicines directorate the following performance objectives for 2004–05.
Objective 1: Authorise veterinary medicines efficiently, using good science, thus ensuring their safety, quality and efficacy.
Objective 2: Ensure the field-use of veterinary medicines is safe and effective, principally through the use of best practice in pharmacovigilance.
Objective3: Ensure the safe use of veterinary medicines authorised in the UK through surveillance of residues and follow-up action where misuse is detected.
Objective 4: Develop policy to ensure that veterinary medicines can be used effectively and safely, offering protection to human health, animal health and welfare and the environment.
Objective 5: Seek to encourage the proper use of veterinary medicines and actively discourage improper use.
Objective 6: Develop the VMD to ensure it is fit for purpose and its vision, aim and objectives are contributing to DEFRA's PSA VI as well as the Department's overall vision and values.
TREASURY
Valuation Office Agency
The Paymaster General (Dawn Primarolo): I have today set the following key performance indicators for the Valuation Office Agency for 2004–05:
Contain reductions in 2,000 local rating lists to less than 7.5 per cent. in respect of compiled list appeals settled in 2004–05, and to a maximum of 4.7 per cent. of the total compiled list rateable value over the entire life of the 2,000 rating lists.
Prepare for the forthcoming revaluation of non-domestic properties in England and Wales by producing draft rating lists by 30 September 2004 and compiled rating lists by 31 March 2005.
Prepare for the forthcoming revaluation of domestic properties in Wales by producing draft valuation lists by 1 September 2004 and compiled valuation lists by 31 March 2005.
Prepare for the forthcoming revaluation of domestic properties in England by digitising data for 97.5 per cent. of properties by 31 March 2005 and, by 31 July 2004, evaluating
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- whether the automated valuation model can be utilised effectively for the banding of a minimum of 60 per cent. of dwellings.
Maintain customer satisfaction, based on annual surveys, at 86 per cent.
Improve productivity by 2.5 per cent. in 2004–05 and achieve improvements of at least 15 per cent. by 2007–08.
Achieve an increased fee income of £19.2 million ensuring that its share of VOA costs is covered.
Improve staff satisfaction in working for the VOA in comparison with other places of work, based on annual surveys, by 1 per cent.
Recover full resource costs within Parliamentary approved estimates, including a return on capital of 3.5 per cent., from fees and charges.
HOME DEPARTMENT
Annual Report and Corporate Plan
The Secretary of State for the Home Department (Mr. David Blunkett): We have today published the Home Office's 2004 Annual Report and 2004–05 Corporate Plan. Copies are available in the House Library and on the Home Office website. Both describe how the Home Office builds trust and security, by promoting cohesive communities and active citizenship; and through the effective enforcement of law, order and our borders. Both the report and the plan describe how these themes provide the context for all that we do, and contribute towards civil renewal. The report is primarily focused on 2003–04, setting out our performance against key targets and describing how our activities contributed towards them. The plan is focused on the present financial year, explaining how we will deliver better public services and how the Department is organising itself to deliver these.
Yarl's Wood Immigration Removal Centre
The Minister for Citizenship and Immigration (Mr. Desmond Browne): The Government have today published the report of Stephen Shaw, the prisons and probation ombudsman, into the allegations of racism and abuse at Yarl's Wood immigration removal centre, which were reported by the Daily Mirror in December. The report is available on the immigration and nationality directorate (IND) website at http://www.ind.homeoffice.gov.uk/default.asp?pageid=4903. Copies of the report have been placed in the House Library.
We are very grateful to Stephen Shaw for the speed and thoroughness of his investigation and for the comprehensive nature of his report.
The investigation of this matter has revealed a number of disconcerting incidents at Yarl's Wood and confirmed that the principal allegations published by the Daily Mirror were correct. However, Stephen Shaw was able to establish that the remarks reported by the Daily Mirror were made by a small number of people at Yarl's
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Wood and that there was no evidence to indicate a general culture of racism or the improper use of force at the centre.
Stephen Shaw's investigation was preceded by an internal investigation by Global Solutions Ltd. (GSL), the company contracted by IND to operate Yarl's Wood. This investigation resulted in the dismissal of one member of staff and the suspension of another, followed by his resignation. Stephen Shaw satisfied himself as to the thoroughness of the GSL investigation and the appropriateness of the action taken by the company thereafter.
Stephen Shaw's report, which also covers the security implications of the journalist's undercover activity, contains 19 recommendations directed at GSL and ten recommendations directed at IND and the independent monitoring board (IMB) at Yarl's Wood. GSL have responded positively to the recommendations made to them. We have accepted all the recommendations, including that relating to the need to investigate an historical allegation of assault on a detainee, and IND officials will be working closely with GSL and the IMB to implement them.
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